The Roles of Employers, Unions and Government in Swedish Industrial Relations: Important Lessons for Improving Nigeria's Industrial Relations

Abstract

Nigeria's industrial and labour relations have been very precarious in the last ten to fifteen years. Employees, employers, and government dealings with one another have been characterized by disrespect, egocentric tendencies, mistrust, threats, and prolonged strikes with attendant negative consequences. Many scholars, industry players, and other experts have attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to proffer solutions to the country s labour relations challenges. This paper attempts to highlight the lessons that Nigeria can learn from Sweden, a nation with a unique workable industrial relations model noted worldwide. The paper takes a quick look at some historical issues that possibly brought the present Swedish industrial relations model into being. The paper also examines some earlier and latter issues that shaped the Swedish model. It also tries to identify some elements in the Swedish model that have survived and are worth of studying and adopting. The paper then situates the foregoing issues in the roles that employers, unions and government play in the Swedish industrial relations system. Ultimately, the paper identifies and discusses some important lessons that Nigeria can learn from Sweden.